On Wednesday, Nepal and the UAE renewed the labour deal, which paves the way for the resumption of sending domestic workers to the Gulf nation more conveniently.

Nepal relies heavily on imported onions and is gradually becoming a net importer of potatoes.

The unions have demanded that industrial workers be paid on a par with first level office helper in the civil service.

The contractors have given a June 19 deadline for the redressal of their grievances.

The East Asian country has asked for 3,000 people to work in the shipyards, officials said.

Nepal and its labour-receiving countries have effectively failed in ensuring the migrant workers’ rights, experts say.

The UK’s Home Office immigration statistics show that 2,072 Nepalis got seasonal work visas in the first half of 2022.

The Make in Nepal initiative, jointly started by the government and the private sector, had envisioned four targets to boost the job market and the economy, but they all failed.

Despite the provision, Nepali migrant workers are still made to pay a hefty amount in recruitment fees, insiders say.

The state-owned DDC and privately-owned Nepal Dairy Association and Dairy Industry Association have requested the government to lift the ban on imports of skimmed milk powder to prevent shortages.

Labour migration researchers have questioned the rationale behind starting a scheme without adequate preparations.

Foreign Employment Board has approved proposals from 81 local units to start the programmes.

The mechanism for paying financial assistance to the workers and their families needs to be made easier, said experts.

Officials admit that there have been some issues related to payment, but say that the problem is not as severe as made out to be.

While some doctors say it is a welcome step, others doubt its effectiveness.